Foundations and Adult Health Nursing Study Guide Answers Related

Review Foundations and Adult Health Nursing Study Guide Answers related questions and content

A patient presents with unilateral facial paralysis, inability to close the eye on the affected side, and loss of taste sensation on the anterior two-thirds of the tongue. Which of the following conditions is most likely responsible for this presentation?

  • A. Bell's palsy
  • B. Ramsay Hunt syndrome
  • C. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia
  • D. Acoustic neuroma
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Ramsay Hunt syndrome is caused by the varicella-zoster virus affecting the geniculate ganglion, leading to a triad of symptoms known as the Hunt syndrome: facial paralysis, ear pain, and a vesicular rash in the ear or palate. The facial paralysis in Ramsay Hunt syndrome is usually peripheral, similar to Bell's palsy, but may be more severe. In addition to facial paralysis, the patient may have the inability to close the eye on the affected side (lagophthalmos) and loss of taste sensation on the anterior two-thirds of the tongue due to involvement of the chorda tympani nerve. This differentiation is important to consider in the context of our patient's presentation.